With a narrow 2-1 defeat suffered last week in the Czech Republic, Olympique Lyonnais manager Paulo Fonseca’s side faces a tall order: deliver a two-goal margin victory to avoid nerve-wracking extra time, or face an early exit. UEFA has responded by assigning a referee of the highest caliber to handle this high-stakes fixture. At 45, Szymon Marciniak brings unmatched experience to Décines, having officiated the 2022 World Cup final and countless other elite continental competitions.

Mixed memories for Lyon

This appointment will inevitably stir recollections among the club’s faithful, as it marks Marciniak’s fifth time in charge of an Olympique Lyonnais match. While his most recent involvement ended in a painful 5-1 thrashing at Camp Nou in 2019, he also presided over Lyon’s 3-1 Europa League victory against Ajax Amsterdam in 2017 – a result that ultimately proved insufficient for progression. Prior to these, he oversaw narrow defeats to Juventus (0-1 in 2016) and Viktoria Plzeň (2-1 in 2014).